Iraq Spending Bill Moves Ahead; Resolution on Withdrawal Fails

Updated March 16, 2007 12:01 a.m. ET

A $124.6 billion Iraq war spending bill cleared the House Appropriations Committee after Democrats turned back Republican efforts to drop provisions calling for the withdrawal of U.S. combat forces next year. Debate next week on the House floor will pose more of a challenge. The action came as Senate Democrats failed in their first attempt to win passage of a separate resolution calling for troop withdrawal by March 31, 2008.